Reviews
American Prison: A Reporter's Undercover Journey Into the Business of Punishment by Shane Bauer
rick2's review against another edition
2.0
Anecdotal to be sure. But this book is interesting enough. The authors attempts at contextualizing his experience fall a bit flat. It’s the same tropes that have been used before. I found the analysis lacking. But the first hand descriptions of how the authors personality changes over his year as a guard were fascinating.
De Tocqueville is brought out and quoted a lot because of course he is. De Tocqueville is a rent-a-quote for aspiring political writers. And I got whiplash from the use of “the modern prison system began in 1980.” Only to hear a chapter or two later about how “the modern prison system began in the 1800s” “no wait it started with indentured servitude back in pre colonial days” pick one. Support your thesis. Or don’t claim that the system stems from a single point. Is it possible that it’s a nuanced system comprised of centuries of huge institutional bias?
Don’t read this for its analysis. Read it for a first hand account of working as a correctional officer in a private prison. That alone is eye opening.
De Tocqueville is brought out and quoted a lot because of course he is. De Tocqueville is a rent-a-quote for aspiring political writers. And I got whiplash from the use of “the modern prison system began in 1980.” Only to hear a chapter or two later about how “the modern prison system began in the 1800s” “no wait it started with indentured servitude back in pre colonial days” pick one. Support your thesis. Or don’t claim that the system stems from a single point. Is it possible that it’s a nuanced system comprised of centuries of huge institutional bias?
Don’t read this for its analysis. Read it for a first hand account of working as a correctional officer in a private prison. That alone is eye opening.
clarebell23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
paulataua's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting read about private prisons in America. The inside story was good enough but nothing totally surprising. The most interesting part was the description of how the prison came to be an entity in the criminal justice system. I am always so naively shocked by how people can miss that there is a slight conflict of interest somewhere in the existence of these institutions.
hanlov's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook, this was a tough listen. Bauer does a great job sharing his experiences working in a Louisiana prison, and alternating each chapter with a history of for-profit prisons and their roots in slavery. I did not know much about private prisons before this, and I was deeply disturbed the whole book. Great from an investigative standpoint, but heartbreaking to hear about the way inmates are treated so a corporation can profit off their incarceration. Very insightful and well-researched!
jaxgardner's review against another edition
5.0
Incredibly well written. Detailed. Approachable. Mr Bauer oscillates between historical context and lived experiences at Winn seamlessly, weaving an artful yet depressing tapestry of our private prison system, how we got here, and how the work of prisoners/slaves continues to benefit a few select rich white men.
carolynmorgan's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Disturbing past, present, and sadly, future outlined here.
betacharacter's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastic example of true investigative reporting
jp_riemersma's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Rape, Xenophobia, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Drug use, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Murder, and Excrement